ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Illinois, United States, 19 July 2023: Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International announced the publication of ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23, a test method for louvre impacted by wind-borne debris. Making the announcement through a Press release, AMCA said ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23 would supersede ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-13 and establish uniform methods of laboratory testing the ability of a louvre to remain unbreached by flying debris during a windstorm.

One of the most significant changes to the standard, AMCA said,  is the addition of instructions for mounting a louvre test specimen to a test frame using angle iron. While the mounting angle now required would comply with the previous version of the standard, AMCA said that a minimum thickness was established to ensure that the mounting angle provides a rigid attachment and does not absorb appreciable amounts of impact energy from deformation.

According to AMCA, the other major changes in the ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23 are:

• The addition of a preface defining broad objectives and uses that do not fit within the purpose and scope sections.
• The establishment of minimum performance requirements for louvres undergoing testing.
• Corrected definitions of enhanced and basic protection and added definitions of essential facilities, mullion or section joint, blade span, unsupported blade span, frameless section joint, and dual-blade louvre.
• Definition of the sections of Testing Application Standard (TAS) 203 and criteria for testing products subject to cyclic wind pressure loading that are to be followed during post-impact cyclic pressure tests.
• The establishment of separate failed-test procedures for impact tests and cyclic pressure tests.
• The requirement that a test report must be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer and include cyclic-pressure-test data and results.
• The updating of all figures.

The cost of ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23, AMCA said, is USD 45 for AMCA members and USD 90 for non-members in printed or PDF format, and USD 61 for AMCA members and USD 122 for non-members in both printed and PDF formats. To purchase a copy, click here.